Monarch Butterfly
Danaus plexippus
The most recognizable butterfly in North America — brilliant orange with bold black borders. Monarchs pass through the Okanagan on a migration that spans entire continents.
Field Note
No single Monarch butterfly completes the full round trip. The butterflies that leave Mexico in spring are the great-great-grandchildren of the ones that arrived the previous fall. Somehow, each new generation knows the route.
Where to Spot It at ABNC
Check the pollinator garden and any milkweed patches in late summer (August–September). Monarchs need milkweed to lay their eggs — no milkweed, no Monarchs.
Why It Matters
Monarchs are important pollinators and a symbol of healthy native plant ecosystems. Their dramatic decline across North America is a warning sign about habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change.
Good to Know
This beautiful butterfly flies all the way from Canada to Mexico and back every year — that's up to 4,800 km! It's one of the greatest journeys of any creature on Earth, and it weighs less than a paperclip.